Front Row Cornets
| Principal Cornet - Hannah Rowland |
Hannah joined Middleton Band in the new year 2009 on 2nd cornet. Hannah has only been in one other band, Denton Brass. She played on 3rd cornet and rep before moving onto 3rd man down. She also played her first solo there. Hannah also conducted and taught the training band at Denton Brass too.
Hannah took her Grade 2 cornet exam in 2007 passing it with distinction. She then took a big jump to do her Grade 5 exam in the summer of 2008 passing that too with distinction and passed her Grade7 in summer 2009 again with distinction!
Hannah also plays in her school brass band at Blue Coat and also plays in their Jazz orchestra and Concert Band.
More recently, Hannah has risen to the challenge of principal cornet in 2010 winning the Hebden Bridge March contest best Soloist Prize in Summer 2010.
We like what we hear Hannah! Keep up the good work!!!
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| Tony O'Mara |
Tony joined the Middleton band in 2005, along with other members coming from the Moston & Beswick Band, bringing a wealth of experience with him.
Tony has 35 years experience, and has been playing since the age of 11, when he learned to play the tenor horn, later moving onto cornet and also briefly playing Flugel and Soprano. He began his banding career at the now disbanded Moston & Beswick band and during his playing career returned there many times.
Tony has played in many bands including Besses O’ Th’ Barn, Blackley, Brighouse & Rastrick, CWS Manchester, Mirrlees, Moston & Beswick, Newton Heath, Oldham Co-op Pioneers and Rochdale, to name a few.
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| Andrew Royle |
Awaiting Biography |
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| Roger Albiston |
Roger began playing with Middleton Band in 1964, after playing for a couple of years with Gill Street Methodist Band in Moston where be started playing at the age of 8.
He left Middleton Band in 1975 for a spell of playing in dance bands, but returned in 1987 and has stayed ever since.
Roger likes playing music by Eric Ball and has a fondness for unusual marches - he says "Raby" is one of favourites. Roger's least favourite music is anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and modern pieces by Dutch or Norwegian composers.
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| Soprano Cornet - Louise Crane |
Lou has been involved with the band since 2000 but has been playing since 1987.
She joined Middleton Band on the front row and stayed there for a year before moving onto the sop seat in 2001.
Before she came to Middleton, Lou played trumpet for the Oldham Music Centre Swing Band.
The highlights of Lou's career were playing at the national finals in 2002 and 2007.
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| Repiano Cornet - Jamie Wade |
Originally from the Isle of Man Jamie started playing cornet with Douglas Town Band in 1999. In 2005 he moved to Manchester to study and it was during this time that he became involved with Middleton Band.
Jamie joined the band on 2nd cornet until 2008 when he moved to Rep.
Since joining the band Jamie has taken on the responsibility of Librarian. He also decided to get the website up and running again. Now he just needs to make sure that he keeps it up to date!
The highlights of Jamie's career were playing at the National Finals in 2002 with Douglas Town Band and in 2007 with Middleton Band.
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| Sylvia Risby |
Awaiting Biography |
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| 2nd Cornet - Vacancy |
Coud this be you? We currently have a vacancy for a 2nd Cornet Player.
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| Bob Tresadern |
Awaiting Biography |
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Tom Harrison
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Thomas has been playing the Bb cornet since the age of 7. Thomas took his Grade 2 cornet exam in 2006 passing it with merit. His first entry into the competing band world was with Carrbook Brass Band in 2009 where he played second cornet.
He also plays with Milnrow Junior Band, Milnrow Brass Ensemble and his school brass band at Crompton House.
Thomas was delighted to be given the opportunity to play with Middleton Brass Band and be part of a winning team.
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Basses
James Kerr
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Jemima Palfreyman
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| Cameron |
Cameron began playing in 2006 on Euphonium. After a brief stint on trombone Cameron found his true calling the tuba!
Cameron has progressed from strength to strength through the training band, into the youth band and now the main band, making his contest debut with Middleton band on Whit Friday 2010!
Keep up the good work Cameron, a star in the making!
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| Phil Tonge |
Phil is one of the longest serving members of the band, with the emphasis on "serving".
It was him, along with Fred and John Cooney who revived the band some 15 years ago and it is due to those three that the band is going so strong today.
Phil has had a turn at conducting both the Youth Band and the main band when there was no resident conductor, (like a praying mantis we are told!) and has been a mainstay of the bass section since Adam were a lad....
Phil has played in bands such as Mossley, Faireys and British Vita as well as playing for Middleton when he was 12 years old (he won't tell us how long ago that is though!!).
Phil says the best time in his career was when he played in Faireys with Norman Ashcroft playing solo cornet.
He loves playing "Life Divine" but runs a mile at "The Best Of Abba". I think the rest of the band are with you there Phil.....MARVELLOUS!!
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| David Taylor |
Awaiting Biography |
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Percussion
| John Cooney |
John is one of the trio who revived the band about 15 years ago, and continues to be one of the main driving forces behind its success today.
John is the band Chairman, principal percussionist, librarian, doorkeeper chief transport engineer, and doubles up as the band's Enforcer in times of need.
John is a relative newcomer to brass bands, having played most of his musical career in dance bands and in clubs etc for singers and acts all over the place.
Not surprisingly, John's favourite band piece is "Cute" where he gets to show off his fantastic skills on the kit.
Also not surprisingly, John doesn't like playing hymn tunes because there's not much for him to play!
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| Stacey |
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| Tuned Percussion - Could it be you? |
We are currently looking for another percussionist to join the ranks. |
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Trombones
| Joe Starbuck |
Joe started playing the Trombone at the age of 8 with the Music Center Youth Band. Then in 2002 he started at St Matthews High School where he had trombone tuition with Paul Mooney. At St Matthews there was lots of opportunites for him to join different ensembles which included the school wind band, brass band and swing band.
As his playing started to progress, he had an opportunity at the age of 13 to start playing with St Johns Mossley for 3 years. He also joined a wind band at the age of 14 called Mancunian Winds where they frequently played concerts at the RNCM. At this point in his playing he realised that playing the trombone was going to become not just a hobby, but maybe a profession for the future.
When Joe left St Matthews he started his A level Music Course at Xaverian College where he had even more opportunities to start playing in other ensembles and even playing solos. While at college he wanted to audition for Music College and in his first year at Xaverian, he auditioned for the RNCM where he recieved a reserve place.
He liked playing solos at college and there was a Young Musician of the year competition in which he came 2nd to 20 musicians on the night. He played a diploma standard piece called The Hindemith Sonata. Joe joined Middleton Brass Band in 2008 when he found there was a place for him to play Solo Trombone. He is enjoying playing in the band and hes looking forward to the future.
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| Sarah Maguire |
Awaiting Biography |
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| Bass Trombone - Stuart Erskine |
Full Name: Stuart Erskine
Started Playing: When I was 6
Previous Band(s): Cobden Chadwick Engineers Band, Oldham Brass '97, Oldham Band (Lees), Boarshurst Silver Band
Best Moments in Banding: Winning the National Finals twice, once being at The Royal Albert Hall in 2000 (2nd Section). 7 Pontins wins
Worst Moment in Banding: Leaving my (un-insured) Trombone outside my house one night whilst very drunk. It got nicked.
Favourite Test Piece(s): Journey Into Freedom, Spectrum, Facets of Glass and Music for a Festival.
Future Hopes and Wishes: To continue to enjoy my playing, to win more contests and to help Middleton Band acheive its goals.
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